Big Ten basketball: All-Big Ten team

The season started with Indiana's Cody Zeller expected to run away with the Big Ten honors.

But now the conference regular season closed with a different Hoosiers' star and a Michigan point guard in the running for the national player of the year award.

The Wolverines' Trey Burke and Indiana's Victor Oladipo made it a two-man race, but the Big Ten award went to Burke — and the national award should too. The point guard is a complete player who excels on both ends of the court better than any player in any conference.

Victor Oladipo — Indiana, guard, 6-5, junior: The surprise of the season, Oladipo is a two-way threat. He shot 61 percent for 13.7 points per game, while leading the league with 2.2 steals per game.

DeShaun Thomas — Ohio State, forward, 6-7, junior: Thomas has been a consistent force for the Buckeyes, averaging 19.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. He has become more of an outside threat as well, making 36 percent of his 3-pointers.